Balliets in Womens Wear Daily

The recession hasnt cramped the ambition of Tootsies in Houston or Balliets in Oklahoma City: Both veteran women"s luxury retailers have invested in big new flagships that are thriving.

Tootsies" owner Mickey Rosmarin and Balliets" proprietor Bob Benham each built $6 million stores with generous building allowances from developers eager for fashionable anchors in their new shopping centers.

Tootsies doubled in size when its 35,000-square-foot home opened in February, and Balliets grew 40 percent when it unveiled a two-story, 17,000-square-foot store in August.

It certainly helped that the economies of Houston and Oklahoma City have been among the most resilient during the recession and are benefiting from rising oil prices.

"It was the deal of a lifetime," Benham said of his new store at Classen Curve. Seven months later, profits are up and sales are above plan with a 51 percent jump, he said. His goal is to do $7 million this year and $8 million in 2012.

Designer sales have jumped more than 50 percent, and business overall is up 35 percent, he noted, projecting the store would hit $20 million this year against $15 million in 2010.

Rosmarin drew on 36 years of retail experience to design an elegant emporium filled with natural light, oversize dressing rooms, an event space with a catering kitchen next to a private salon for luxury products, a 300-foot aisle that can double as a runway and plenty of elbow room on the sales floor.